- May 3, 2015
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Hi,
Up until this weekend, I had wood mulch as the substrate in my run, but one of my girls just got bumblefoot, likely from jumping down and puncturing her foot. The livestock vet recommended eliminating mulch and putting down rubber mulch, which I elected not to do out of the potential toxins. I did a ton of research and opted for a multi-purpose gravel as a base, covered with paver sand (not the kind that locks, I checked). This was suggested by Menards since it is much more coarse than some of the other sand options. The girls seem unhappy. I don't know if they're still adjusting to the change or if they hate it. I don't see them scratching in it the way they did the mulch and they're certainly not running out to greet me like they did before the change. I was wondering if I should add another layer of thinner sand on top - more like a multi-purpose sand or a leveling sand. They have a dust bath, so it's not like they need the whole run to be a dust bath - and they have an outside run (the one I just put the sand in is a covered run) - that's all river rock....I'm probably being too sensitive, but am curious what others' think. I've read over and over that paver base is good - it's not too fine, but it also doesn't appear to be the kind I can clean up like kitty litter, as I've read in other forums and sites. Thank you.
Alissa
PS - See photo. I don't plan to pull any of this out - as it was 2000# of rock that I and friends moved yesterday - but I am open to adding softer sand on top. I'm sure they're just fine as is.
Up until this weekend, I had wood mulch as the substrate in my run, but one of my girls just got bumblefoot, likely from jumping down and puncturing her foot. The livestock vet recommended eliminating mulch and putting down rubber mulch, which I elected not to do out of the potential toxins. I did a ton of research and opted for a multi-purpose gravel as a base, covered with paver sand (not the kind that locks, I checked). This was suggested by Menards since it is much more coarse than some of the other sand options. The girls seem unhappy. I don't know if they're still adjusting to the change or if they hate it. I don't see them scratching in it the way they did the mulch and they're certainly not running out to greet me like they did before the change. I was wondering if I should add another layer of thinner sand on top - more like a multi-purpose sand or a leveling sand. They have a dust bath, so it's not like they need the whole run to be a dust bath - and they have an outside run (the one I just put the sand in is a covered run) - that's all river rock....I'm probably being too sensitive, but am curious what others' think. I've read over and over that paver base is good - it's not too fine, but it also doesn't appear to be the kind I can clean up like kitty litter, as I've read in other forums and sites. Thank you.
Alissa
PS - See photo. I don't plan to pull any of this out - as it was 2000# of rock that I and friends moved yesterday - but I am open to adding softer sand on top. I'm sure they're just fine as is.
